Adjustable stair stringer and railing

ABSTRACT

An adjustable stair stringer and railing construction assembly is disclosed. The assembly is adapted to use a pair of parallel stringer arms for each side of the stair, a riser/tread support bracket for each stair and alignment and spacing elements for spacing the support brackets along the stringers. The brackets include formations for spacing the stringers with respect to each other and for spacing adjacent brackets along the stringers. The brackets are initially pivotally attached to each of the stringers so as to be rotatably movable about their pivotal attachment as the stringers are moved axially. Axial movement of the stringers with respect to each other establishes the angle of rise of the stair. Treads and risers are attached to the brackets to form the stairs and railings are attachable to the stringer and bracket assembly to complete the construction. The parallel stringers, brackets and spacers are also used in the preparation of formwork for pouring aggregate stairs with the stringers, brackets and spacers being reusable.

This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/095,780,filed Mar. 9, 2002 which is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser.No. 09/315,809, filed May 21, 1999. That application claims priorityfrom Provisional Application No. 60/085,151 for ADJUSTABLE STAIRSTRINGER AND RAILING filed May 21, 1998 by Richard Truckner and PaulTruckner.

Numerous innovations for adjustable stairways have been provided in theprior art that are described as follows. Even though these innovationsmay be suitable for specific individual purposes to which they address,they differ from the present invention as hereinafter contrasted.

The prior art does not utilize a pivoted motion and does not allow aninfinite amount of variable spacing when framing stairs and/or arailing. The present invention allows an infinite amount of variablespacings and use of a pivoting motion.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,245,825 to W. E. Ross teaches a folding stand that haspivoting support but is not based on vertical holes which keep treads ina horizontal position with an infinite amount of variable spacings.Furthermore, the patented invention utilizes different elements from thepresent invention. Some of the differences are:

-   -   1) Vertical holes are not important,    -   2) Stair is adjustable into one position only,    -   3) Not meant to be permanently fixed after moved into position        on risers,    -   4) Risers and treads to not slide past each other,    -   5) Pivoting tread support is not fixed in position after        adjustment and therefore not used to lock stringers.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,370,664 to J. J. Whitehead teaches an adjustablestaircase. The patented invention does not have any pivoting motion andutilizes different elements from the present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,885,365 to J. W. Cox teaches a self adjusting stairwhich utilizes a truss assemblage. In the patented invention adjustmentsare made using a pin and slot. The patented invention does not utilizeany pivoting motion and the rails are not adjusted by stringers as withthe present invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,962,838 to J. W. Cox teaches a self adjusting whichutilizes spacers in a truss assemblage. The patented invention does notutilize a pivoting motion and the rails are not adjusted by stringers.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,347 to N. M. Strathopoulos teaches a modularstaircase assembly. The patented invention does not utilize a pivotingmotion. The rails are not adjusted by stringers and are not adjusted onvertical holes.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,959,935 to H. R. Stob teaches a prefabricated adjustablestairway. The patented invention does not utilize a pivoting motion andthe rails are not adjusted by stringers. This apparatus uses a threepoint pivoting action so that stringers do not separate duringadjustment and slide one on top of the other.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,854 to K. J. Nebel teaches an adjustable heightstaircase. The patented invention does not utilize a pivoting apparatusas described herein. The present invention utilizes a pivoting apparatusand contains different elements from the patented invention for at leastthe following reasons:

-   -   1) Treads are directly connected to stringers,    -   2) No risers,    -   3) No sliding motion of riser past the tread.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,957 to Pouplaw shows treads that are directlyconnected to stringers, stringers that have special tongue and groovespacers which must be an exact size each time in order to lock stringersotherwise the stringers must be secured top and bottom of the staironly, and risers and treads do not slide past each other.

Numerous innovations for adjustable staircases have been provided in theprior art that are adapted to be used. Even though these innovations maybe suitable for specific individual purposes to which they address, theywould not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention asheretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The structure of the present invention can be used for forming a stairand may also be used as a support for concrete form work, as a form fora ramp, as a form for adjustable shelves, as an adjustable bleacher, andfor adjustable displays.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustablestringer and railing that allows users to have a quickly formed stairstructure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustablestringer and railing that provides partially assembled elements that canbe adjusted to a variety of applications and then securely fixed to forma stair framing and/or railing framing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustablestringer and railing that utilizes a pivoting motion.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustablestringer and railing that allows an infinite amount of variable spacingswhen creating stairs and/or railing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustablestringer and railing that eliminates the need to calculate spacingbetween step treads and angle of the stairs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustablestringer and railing that provides an embodiment that includes an upperstringer arm, a lower stringer arm and at least one riser support.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustablestringer and railing that provides an embodiment that includes an upperrail support and at least two railing posts pivotally attached to theupper rail support.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustablestringer and railing that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is the use of a bracket andsetting and spacer bar that can be used with stringer elements forsimplifying the formation of a stair assembly with treads, risers andrail supports.

Further objects of the present invention include a stair formingapparatus that includes a pivoting block to which treads and risers canbe attached, a pivoting block to which treads only can be attached, apivoting block which allows risers and treads to slide past each other,a pivoting block which allows risers and treads to be attached such thatthe risers and treads can be attached to each other after assembly toform a solid construction in which the risers become beams and thetreads become lateral use of a bracing to produce great structuralstrength and much wider stair widths than normal with on center supports(additional stringers) as with. normal stairs, and greater stringerstrength than with normal saw tooth stringers because of greaterstringer depth and, when the riser/tread supports are secured to theupper and lower stringers after adjustment, the stringers are bondedtogether to form one solid stringer which also is capable of muchgreater spans without additional supports.

The structure of the present invention includes riser and tread supportwhich allows risers and tread to slide past each other (as the stingeris adjusted) in order to utilize standard lumber and eliminate the needto cut lumber to exact widths, to use standard lumber of varying lengthsaccording to width of the stair (i.e. 4′ to 10′ wide stairs), to useriser and tread support systems which, after pivoting and adjusting inposition, allows risers to be used as beams which greatly increases thestructural strength of the stair allowing much greater stair widths thannormal without the need for additional center support stringers, andprovides a stringer system which, when the riser/tread supports aresecured, the stringer members are bonded together to form a muchstronger stringer member than in normal “saw tooth” type constructiongiving much greater stair lengths without additional supports.

The foregoing benefits are accomplished with the simplified bracket,spacer and setting combination that permits the assembly of a stairstringer assembly without difficulty permitting the “do it yourselfer”to install a stair assembly with simple instructions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the stair embodiment of the adjustable stairstinger and railing illustrating two possible inclinations.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the railing embodiment of the adjustable stairstringer and railing.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the adjustable stair stringer and railing.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing the assembled stair and railing set inposition.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the assembled stairs.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an alternative form of the adjustable stair 10as assembled.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the adjustable stair in two alternativerise angles using the same elements.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the nailing block and pivotattachment plate for the stair assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative riser tread support.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the attachment bracket as used in thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of a stair assembly of the form of FIG. 7with risers and without the treads.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a stair assembly of the form of FIG. 7with the use of horizontal pivots.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the tread support bracket as used inFIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is an alternative form of a tread support and riser supportusing horizontal pivots as used in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is an elevation view showing alternative riser/tread supportswhich are individually set on a two piece stringer.

FIG. 16 is an elevation view showing the riser/tread adjusted inposition.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the riser/tread support of FIGS. 15 &16.

FIG. 18 is an alternative form of the present invention using a singlepivot point for a riser/tread support.

FIGS. 19 & 20 are alternative forms of tread support support for theassembly of FIG. 18.

FIG. 21 is a side elevation view with an alternative stair assemblyshowing riser/tread supports and setting spacing blocks.

FIG. 22 is a partial top plan view of a portion of FIG. 21.

FIG. 23 is a side elevation view of the alternative riser/tread supportsof FIG. 21 after removal of the setting/spacing blocks and as set forassembly as a stair riser and tread support.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are perspective views of the riser/tread support andsetting/spacing block after separation.

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of a structure from which a bracket may beformed.

FIG. 27 is a top plan view of a setting and spacer bar for use with thebracket of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a side elevation view of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is a sectional view taken along the lines 29-29 of FIG. 27.

FIGS. 30, 31 and 32 are alternative forms of bracket elements withsetting/spacing bars.

FIG. 33 is a view showing alternative adjustable spacing constructions.

FIGS. 34A, 34B, 35A, 35B, 36A and 36B illustrate the use of thebrackets, setting/spacer bars and stringer elements of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 37, 38A and 38B are side elevation views of riser formwork andlocking clamp using a two piece stinger and riser/formwork supports.

FIGS. 39A, 39B, 39C and 39D illustrate the forming for concrete stairwayusing the bracket and spacer of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 which is a side view of the stair embodiment of anadjustable stair stringer and railing 110 which includes an upperstringer arm 112, a lower stringer arm 114 and at least one riser/treadsupport 116. The upper stringer arm 112 is parallel to the lowerstringer arm 114. The riser/tread support 116 is pivotally attached tothe upper stringer arm 112 and pivotally attached to the lower stringerarm 114. The riser/tread support 116 may be attached to the upperstringer arm 112 and lower stringer arm 114 by riser/tread stringer armfasteners 118. The riser/tread stringer arm fastener 118 can be a pin,screw, bolt, clamp, dowel or hook.

The riser/tread support 116 can be in the shape of a rectangle, square,triangle, pentangle or circle. The riser/tread support 116 may berectangular in shape and contain a riser/tread support beveled corner116A. Furthermore, if there are more than one riser/tread supports 116the riser/tread supports 116 can be positioned equally along the upperstringer arm 112 and lower stringer arm 114. The riser/tread support 116can be attached at horizontally positioned fixed points 116B fastened tothe upper stringer arm 112 and lower stringer arm 114.

The stair embodiment of the adjustable stair stringer and railing 110can include a lower stringer support 120 which can be attachable to theupper stringer arm 112 and the lower stringer arm 114, and an upperstringer support 122 which can be attachable to the upper stringer arm112 and the lower stringer arm 114.

The stair embodiment of the adjustable stair stringer and railing 110can be manufactured from wood, fiberglass, metal, metal alloys, epoxy,carbon graphite, concrete or plastic. It further can be adapted for useto pour concrete and create concrete stairs.

The railing embodiment of the adjustable stair stringer and railing 210as shown in FIG. 2 showing risers 80 and treads 90 contains an upperrail support 212 and at least two railing posts 214. The two railingposts 214 are pivotally attached to the upper rail support 212. The atleast two railing posts 214 are pivotally attached to the upper railsupport 212 by upper rail support railing posts fasteners 218. The upperrail support railing post fastener 218 can be a pin, screw, bolt, clamp,dowel or a hook.

The railing embodiment of the adjustable stair stringer and railing 210can contain at least one banister 216 pivotally attachable and/orattached to the upper rail support 212. The at least one banister 216 isparallel to the railing posts 214. The banister 216 can be attached tothe upper rail support 212 by an upper rail support banister fastener222. The at least one banister 216 can be positioned equally along theupper rail support 212. The upper rail support banister fastener 222 canbe a pin, screw, bolt, clamp, dowel or hook.

The rail embodiment of the adjustable stair stringer and railing 210 cancontain an upper rail support railing cap 212A which is attached to theupper rail support 212. It can further contain a railing post attachment220 attachable to each of the railing posts 214.

It will be understood that each of the elements describe above, or twoor more together, may also find useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the type described above.

FIGS. 6-10 illustrate an alternative form of the stringer, riser andtread assembly in accord with the present invention. In this form a twopiece stringer 310A (lower) and 310B (upper), as shown in FIGS. 6 & 7,is first attached to a deck or wall vertical surface by an attachmentbracket 312, as shown in FIG. 10, with the two pieces of the stringerattached to pivot holes 312A in the bracket. Riser/tread supports 314having pivot holes 316 spaced the same distances as the pivot holes inthe attachment bracket are spaced along the risers and are fixed to therisers by suitable means at screw holes 318 to cause the riser/treadsupports to be parallel to the attachment bracket and equally spacedalong the risers. These vertical pivot riser/tread support 314 areunique because the supports pivot for adjustment only and are fixed inposition after adjustment; the fixing of the riser/tread supports joinsthe two pieces of the stinger to form a one piece, permanently adjustedstringer which is structurally superior to normal stair construction;the positioning of the pivot points (opposite risers) allows the top ofthe stair to be attached the same distance down from the deck/floorlevel each time regardless of the riser height because all risers adjustequally including the first riser; the configuration of the riser/treadsupport allows risers 80 and treads 90 to slide against each other foradjustment; and when the risers are attached to the riser/tread supportsand the treads, each riser then acts as a beam giving the stair muchgreater structural stability and allowing greater widths for a stairwithout additional supports. The riser/tread supports 314 can beconstructed from metal, composites and other materials. It should beevident that the riser/tread supports 314 are now vertical if thesurface of the deck where attachment was made was vertical when theattachment bracket was attached, and as illustrated in the two positionsshown in FIG. 7, the riser/tread supports are now in position to bepermanently attached to the stringers at securing holes 318 and to haverisers 80 and treads 90 attached to the supports.

FIGS. 12-14 illustrate an alternative form of the stringer, riser andtread assembly formed using horizontal pivoted tread support bracketsand including an alternative tread support with riser support elements.FIG. 13 shows alternative pivoting tread supports using a straightbracket 412 and FIG. 14 another support 414, which is truncated in shapewhich can be used with or without a riser, but allowing greater fixingto the stringer. Riser 80 and treads 90 can still slide past each otherto form beams. There are three steps shown on the drawing whichillustrates how this system would be installed with pivot points thatare horizontal.

The feature of the riser/tread support in either the vertical orhorizontal pivoted form is that it is a one piece apparatus whichattaches to the two piece stringer using two pivot points which normallyare vertical or horizontal but can be at any common angle. Theriser/tread supports pivots to adjust for a required height to form thecorrect stair profile.

The riser/tread support is then fixed in position (using nails, screws,bolts, glue, etc.) against the two piece stringer to form one solid,non-moving stringer which is capable of supporting both risers andtreads or treads alone or risers alone (when being used for concreteformwork). The two piece stringer is then cut (at the dotted linesshown) to conform to the deck or wall at the top and the base at groundlevel at the bottom. The riser/tread support allows risers and treads toslide past each other so that the risers can be adjusted for heightsliding up or down past the back of the tread. The back of the tread ispushed against the face of the riser to form an enclosed stair. Theposition of the risers and treads can vary infinitely in respect to eachother depending on the stair adjustment.

FIGS. 15-17 illustrate a further alternative form for riser/treadsupports 512 which are individually set on a two piece stringer 310A and310B using removable setting blocks 514 and setting pins 516. In thisform the removable setting blocks 514 are used to space the riser/treadsupports equally along the two piece stringer by being placed on areference surface of a support and as their ends abut along thestringer. The stringer pieces are separated from each other by theremovable setting pin 516 and the riser/tread supports 512 are attachedat their pivot points 518A and 518B to the stringer 112 and to thestringer 114. When the setting blocks 514 and the setting pins 516 areremoved, the two parts of the stringer can be slid with respect to eachother to adjust the riser/tread supports 512 in the desired verticalposition and the riser/tread supports can then be secured to thestringers by screws, nails, or other fasteners at securing holes 520.The riser/tread supports are then in position for the attachment ofequally spaced treads and risers.

FIGS. 18-20 illustrate a stair section showing pivoting riser/treadsupports using a single pivot point allowing the tread to be set levelafter stringer installation. Equally spaced support brackets 612 arepivoted at a single pivot 614 position off the stringer with those pivotpositions being located the same distance below the deck/floor when thestringer is attached with the pivot position a desired distance belowthe level of the deck or floor to which the stair is to be attached.With a single pivot point for each of the equally spaced riser/treadsupports, the supports can be attached to the second stringer bysuitable means and the treads will always be equally spaced and willhave equal rising distances. The single pivot point can be at any commonpoint (shown as alternatives 614B) along the riser/tread supportbrackets 612 and the brackets can be just a tread support or a tread andriser support. FIG. 20 illustrates an alternative form 612B for thebracket in a truncated form.

FIGS. 21-25 illustrate another alternative form for riser/tread supportsfor use in the present invention. In this form the riser/tread supports712 are individually set on a two piece stringer 112-114 using removablesetting/spacing blocks 714. This form of two piece stringer/riser/treadsupport assembly can be assembled with the stringers 112-114 and theriser/tread supports 712 in place by attachment means at the pivots 712Aand with the riser/tread supports spaced by the body 716 ofsetting/spacing blocks 714 mating and cooperating extensions 718A and718B with centering slots 720A and 720B in the riser/tread supports.When the assembly is to be used, the setting/spacing blocks can then beremoved from the riser/tread supports and the stringers can then slidwith respect to each other to rotate the riser/tread supports abouttheir pivot points. The stringer can then be attached to the face of thedeck or wall where the stair is to be attached and the stringers can becut (at possible cut lines shown) to face against the deck or wall. Theriser/tread supports will then be equally spaced both vertically andhorizontally, can be attached by suitable fastening means to thestringers, and are in position for installation of risers and treads.

FIGS. 26-33 illustrate another alternative form for a riser/treadsupport bracket 812. This form may be formed from a metal or othersuitable material blank 812A with stamped holes, slots and side portionsto from the bracket. The side portions 813 and 814 form the tread andriser support surfaces (respectively) with stamped holes 815 forattaching means for the treads and risers. Pivot holes 816 are used forconnecting the bracket to the stringers and holes 817 are for fixing thebracket in place when a stringer assembly is completed. The bracket 812is provided with stamped alignment guide holes at 819 and a guide slotat 820.

FIGS. 27-30 illustrate a setting and spacing bar 822. The setting andspacing bar may be formed of metal or other suitable material andincludes a central body portion 823 with folded ears 824 at each with aguide tab 825 formed at each end of the body portion.

The setting and spacing bar 822 is adapted to cooperate with and spacetwo brackets 812 by aligning the guide tab 825 with the guide hole 819at one bracket and with guide slot 820 in the next bracket and serves toestablish the spacing between brackets. The folded ears 824 separate twostringers and thus to allow for the space for relative movement betweenstringers.

With at least a pair of brackets 812 spaced by setting and spacing bars822 and an upper and lower stringer the brackets may be attached bysuitable means to the stringers at the pivot holes 816 to providealigned and spaced riser/tread brackets for a stair assembly as will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 34-38.

FIGS. 30-33 illustrate alternative forms for riser/tread bracketssimilar to that shown in FIGS. 26-29. FIG. 31 illustrates a bracket 812with a setting and spacing bar 822 integrally formed with the bracket.The bar 822 has a length designed to space adjacent brackets and a nearcentral folded ear portion 824 for spacing stringers. The bar 822 wouldbe detachable after it has functioned in setting and spacing. FIG. 31illustrates another alternative of an integrally formed bracket 812 witha removable spacing bar 822 and a central setting body 824. FIG. 32 isanother alternative bracket similar to FIG. 31 with a removable spacingbar 822 and a central plug 826 for spacing the stringers. FIG. 33illustrates alternative forms for the end of a spacing bar 822 to adaptthe bracket to different spacings of brackets along a stringer assembly.The spacing bar may include holes or pins at 822A or notches at 822B.Spacing bars of the type shown here can be used with the brackets 116shown in FIG. 5 by cooperating with the spacer slots 115 in positioningbrackets 116 before stringers 112 and 114 are moved relative to eachother in setting the brackets 116 for receiving treads and/or risers.

FIGS. 34-36 illustrate the use of the brackets with stringers in theformation of a stair assembly. FIGS. 34A and 34B illustrate the oppositesides of a stair stringer assembly, each side having an upper 112 andlower 114 stringer with a plurality of brackets 812 of the typeillustrated in FIGS. 26-29 (or of the types shown in FIGS. 1-25) andemploying setting and spacing bars 822 to position the brackets alongthe stringers. The two stringer assemblies mirror each other to be leftand right sides of a stairway. When assembled, spaced and guided, thebrackets are attached to the stringers by suitable means through pivotholes 316. FIGS. 35A and 35B illustrate the moved portion of thestringers 812-814 and the rotation of the brackets 812 to the desiredposition for attachment to a deck or wall and for tread and riserattachment after cutting the stingers for attachment to the deck orwall. At this stage in the formation of the stringer assembly thebrackets 812 can be permanently attached to the stringers at theprovided attachment holes.

FIGS. 36A and 36B illustrate the completed stair using the brackets andmovable stringers of the present invention. It should be noted that theforward holes 815 along the tread side portions 813 of the bracket ofFIG. 26 permit the location for pre-drilling guide holes into a treadfrom below. By knocking the tread against the bracket, the raised holeswill mark the underside of the tread. Pre-drilling guide holes willpermit ease of assembly of the tread from below before a riser is addedto the face of the stair.

FIGS. 37 and 38A illustrate the use of the principle of the presentinvention for the positioning of formwork for poured concrete stairs.The use of two part parallel stingers with pivoted riser/formworksupports permits the setting of equally spaced horizontal riser formsand equally spaced vertical spaces between poured stairs. The two piecestringer is first set at the desired angle and the separated stingerparts are fixed with respect to the top and bottom of the desired stair.Equally spaced riser/formwork supports are positioned along the risersby attachment at pivot points with the support elements havingadjustment slots (FIG. 37) or by the use of locking holders (FIG. 38B).Riser formwork elements are attached to the free end of each of thesupports. Concrete aggregate can then be poured behind each of the riserformworks to the desired level for the stairs and allowed to set. Itshould be evident that the face of the riser formwork elements can beadjusted to a desired angle other than vertical by adjusting therelative positions of the two stringer elements. The riser heightadjustment can be achieved by setting the first and last support andtheir riser formworks in position and then raising or loweringintermediate supported riser formworks to a string line drawn from thefirst to the last support. Equally spaced horizontal supports will thenresult in equally spaced vertical riser formworks.

An additional use for the parallel stringers, brackets and spacers isillustrated in FIGS. 39A, 39B, 39C and 39D for the setting of forms forpouring concrete in the formation of a concrete stair. Previous formingsystems have required that stingers be set at each side of the stairs tobe poured along with form boards for the vertical forms off the stair.With the use of the parallel stringers, brackets and spacers of thepresent invention, the form work for a stair is easily position andaligned. As with the case of the riser/tread setting of a stairway, thebrackets are placed and spaced on the parallel stringers so that allbrackets move parallel with each other and provide a surface for themounting of riser forms.

As illustrated in FIG. 39A, the parallel stringers 112 and 114 (as shownin FIG. 1) are set with brackets 812 and spacers 814 (as shown in FIGS.26 through 35B) so that the brackets are equally spaced and pivotedabout mounting fasteners 118 (FIG. 1) in each of the parallel stringers112 and 114. Note that the brackets are mounted in a reverse positionfrom that shown in the previous figures because the only surface thatwill be needed in the form work is the vertical surface 814 (FIG. 26)where a riser form 390 is to be attached. When set in place, the spacersare removed as shown in FIG. 39B so that the brackets are free to berotated with the movement of the parallel stringers. As illustrated inFIG. 39C, when the parallel stringers are moved with respect to eachother, the brackets are rotated parallel to each other. The verticalsurfaces 814 of the brackets 812 are then parallel to each other andspaced equally along the formwork. With the stringer assembly set andfixed in place for the desired angle of rise for the stairway, thevertical surfaces are positioned for the mounting of a riser form 390 ateach bracket. It should be understood that the surface 814 need not beexactly vertical if it is desired that the riser part of a stair betilted slightly from vertical.

FIG. 39D illustrates in perspective one side of a poured concretestairway with aggregate 392 poured along the desired stairway andfinished against the riser forms 390 and leveled between riser forms.The parallel stringers, riser forms and brackets may then be removed forreuse after the concrete aggregate has become set. The tread width andriser heights will all be equal in the finished stairway.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have beenspecifically disclosed, it should be understood that the invention isnot limited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadestpossible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

1. An adjustable stair stringer comprising: a) an upper stringer arm; b)a lower stringer arm parallel to said upper stringer arm; c) at leastone riser/tread support pivotally attached to said upper stringer armand said lower stringer arm.
 2. The adjustable stair stringer as definedin claim 1, wherein said riser/tread support is a plurality of equallyspaced riser/tread supports positioned equally along said upper stringerarm and lower stringer arm.
 3. The adjustable stair stringer as definedin claim 2, wherein said riser/tread support includes means formed forspacing and aligning adjacent riser/tread supports.
 4. The adjustablestair stringer as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least oneriser/tread support is in the shape selected form the group consistingof a rectangle, square, triangle, pentangle, circle and a form in theshape of a rectangle with a beveled corner.
 5. The adjustable stairstringer as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one riser/treadsupport is pivotally attached to said lower stringer arm and to saidupper stringer arm by riser/tread stringer arm fasteners.
 6. Theadjustable stair stringer as defined in claim 5, wherein saidriser/tread support stringer arm fasteners are selected from the groupconsisting of pins, screws, bolts, clamps, dowels and hooks.
 7. Theadjustable stair stringer as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjustablestair stringer is manufactured from a material selected from a groupconsisting of wood, fiberglass, metal, metal alloys, epoxy, carbongraphite, concrete and plastic.
 8. The adjustable stair stringer asdefined in claim 1, wherein said riser/tread support is attached athorizontally positioned fixed points fastened to said upper stringer armand to said lower stringer arm.
 9. An adjustable stair stringer andrailing comprising: a) an upper stringer arm; b) a lower stringer armparallel to said upper stringer arm; c) at least one riser/tread supportpivotally attached to said upper stinger arm and to said lower stringerarm; d) an upper rail support; and e) at least two rail posts pivotallyattached to said upper rail support.
 10. The adjustable stair stringerand railing as defined in claim 9, wherein said adjustable stairstringer and railing further comprises at least one ballister pivotallyattached to said upper rail support.
 11. The adjustable stair stringerand railing as defined in claim 9, wherein said at least two railingposts are pivotally attached by upper rail support railing postfasteners.
 12. The adjustable stair stringer and railing as defined inclaim 9, wherein said adjustable stair stringer and railing furthercomprises an upper rail support railing cap attached to said upper railsupport.
 13. The adjustable stair stringer and railing as defined inclaim 10, wherein said at least one ballister being attached to saidupper rail support by an upper rail support banister fastener.
 14. Theadjustable stair stringer and railing as defined in claim 10, whereinsaid at least one banister is a plurality of ballisters positionedequally along said upper rail support and supported by riser/treadsupports attached to said upper and lower stringer arms.
 15. Anadjustable stair assembly including: a) at least one pair of parallelstringers, b) a plurality of riser/tread support brackets, and c)removable means for spacing and aligning said riser/tread supportbrackets along said parallel stingers, d) said riser/tread supportbrackets being pivotally attachable to said parallel stingers so as tobe movable with parallel surfaces of said stringers when said spacingand aligning means are removed and when said parallel stringers aremoved parallel to each other.
 16. A riser/tread support bracket for usewith an adjustable stair assembly having a pair of parallel stingers,said bracket having: a) at least a pair of aligned holes for use withfastening means for pivotally attaching said bracket to said pair ofparallel stringers, said bracket being attached with one fastening meansin each of said pair of parallel stingers, b) means formed in saidbracket and adapted for positioning said bracket with respect toduplicate brackets in spacing and aligning said bracket along saidparallel stingers.
 17. A riser/tread support bracket with alignment andspacing elements for use in positioning said bracket with respect toduplicate riser/tread support brackets along a pair of parallel stairstingers, said bracket being formed with alignment means for cooperationwith said alignment and spacing elements, said alignment and spacingelements being adapted to cooperate with said formed alignment means inadjacent brackets along said parallel stair stringers, means formed insaid alignment and spacing means for cooperating with said parallelstair stringers to space said stingers transversely with respect to eachother, and means formed in said bracket for cooperating with pivotalsupport means for pivotally attaching said bracket to said spacedparallel stringers with one pivotal support in each of said parallelstingers, whereby said riser/tread support bracket is pivotallyattachable to each of said parallel stingers in aligned equal spacingwith duplicate support brackets by said alignment and spacing elementsfor alignment of said bracket and said parallel stingers, and, when saidalignment and spacing elements are removed from cooperation with saidspaced and aligned brackets, said parallel stringers may be movableaxially with respect to each other, said brackets will be rotatablymovable about said pivotal support on said parallel stingers, and saidbrackets will be equally spaced from duplicate brackets, each of saidduplicate brackets being equally rotatably moved.
 18. A method forforming an adjustable stair assembly having a pair of parallel stringersand employing a plurality of support brackets adjacent to each otheralong said parallel stringers, and means for spacing and aligning saidsupport brackets with respect to adjacent support brackets along saidparallel stringers, said support brackets being duplicate elementsdefining said support brackets and having at least a reference surfaceand means for accommodating fastening means, said means for spacing andaligning said adjacent support brackets along said parallel stringerscomprising a portion cooperating with said reference surface of adjacentsupport brackets to establish spacing and aligning of adjacent supportbrackets and a portion cooperating with said parallel stringers toestablish spacing and lateral positioning of said parallel stringers,said method comprising the steps of: a) positioning said pair ofstringers parallel to each other, b) placing said plurality ofriser/tread support brackets on said parallel stringers with saidreference surfaces generally aligned along said stringers, c) spacingand aligning said support brackets along a first of said parallelstringers using said spacing and alignment means, individual spacing andalignment means having a portion cooperating at one end with stringersusing a pair of fastening means through said means for said referencesurface on each support bracket in a predetermined position and at theopposite end with a portion of an adjacent support bracket, and anotherportion of said spacing and alignment means cooperating with adjacentsurfaces of said parallel stringers to space and laterally position saidparallel stringers, d) pivotally fixing said support brackets to saidparallel accommodating fastening means with one of said pair offastening means in each of said parallel stringers, e) removing saidspacing and alignment means from said support bracket and removing saidspacing and alignment means from cooperating with said parallelstringers, f) and axially moving one of said parallel stringers withrespect to the other to pivotally rotate each of said support bracketsto a desired position along said adjustable stair assembly.
 19. Themethod of claim 18 wherein said individual alignment means cooperatingat one end with said reference surface is a bar cooperating with a topsurface as the reference surface, and said alignment means cooperatingwith adjacent surfaces of said parallel stringers is a spacing pinbetween said parallel stringers.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein saidindividual alignment means cooperating at one end with said referencesurface is a bar having a portion cooperating with the sides of adjacentsupport brackets and a lateral extending ear for spacing said parallelstringers.
 21. A method for forming a multistep stair formwork for usein pouring an aggregate setting material and employing stringer supportmeans at each side of said stair, support brackets for each step of saidstair, and spacing and each of said stringer support means including apair of parallel stringer elements movable axially with respect to eachother, said support brackets including means for attaching said supportbrackets to said stringer elements, means for attaching a riser form,and means for cooperating with said spacing and alignment means forassembling said support brackets with said parallel stringer elements,the method steps comprising, a) positioning said parallel stringerelements parallel to each other, b) placing said support brackets alongsaid parallel stringer elements, c) spacing said support bracketsaxially along said parallel stringer elements by said spacing andalignment means, d) spacing said parallel stringer elements laterallyspacing and alignment means, e) pivotally attaching each of said supportbrackets to said parallel stinger elements with one pivotal attachmentmeans in each of said parallel stringer elements, f) removing saidspacing and alignment means from cooperation with said support bracketsand said stringer elements, g) axially moving said parallel stringerelements relative to each other so as to rotate said pivotally attachedsupport brackets, each support bracket being equally rotated, h) fixingsaid brackets to said stringer elements to position said brackets with asubstantially vertical surface for attachment of a riser form, i) andattaching a riser form to said substantially vertical surface of saidsupport bracket, whereby said multistep stair formwork is prepared forreceiving aggregate to be finished and set to form said multistep stair.22. A support bracket and spacer kit for use in framing at least oneside of a stair assembly into one of a plurality of configurations, theat least one side of the stair assembly having a pair of parallelstringers, a plurality of support brackets spaced apart from each otheralong the pair of parallel stringers, and at least one spacer which isat least partially disposed between the pair of parallel stringers: thesupport bracket of the kit comprising a tread support surface and areference surface having a spaced receptacle, a first aperture and asecond aperture, the first aperture being adapted and aligned forpivotally attaching the support bracket to a first fastener attached toone of the parallel stringers, and the second aperture being adapted andaligned for pivotally attaching the support bracket to a second fastenerattached to the other of the parallel stringers, and the spacer of thekit comprising an elongated member having a first element at each endthereof, the first element at one end of the elongated member engagingthe spacer receptacle of the support bracket to orient and position thesupport bracket with respect to another support bracket disposed alongthe parallel stringers, and a second element integrally connected to theelongated member and extending laterally from the elongated member, thesecond element extending beyond a side of the support bracket forinsertion between the parallel stringers, wherein the elongated memberestablishes a spacing and lateral positioning of the parallel stringerswith respect to the support bracket and spacer, whereby the supportbracket is adapted to be pivotally attached to each of the spacedparallel stringers, and the support bracket is adapted to be spaced fromthe other support bracket by the first element of the spacer, and thesupport bracket is adapted to be pivotally movable with respect to thespaced parallel stringers.
 23. A support bracket, setting pin, andsetting block kit for use in framing at least one side of a stairassembly into one of a plurality of configurations, the at least oneside of the stair assembly having a pair of parallel stringers, aplurality of support brackets spaced apart from each other along thepair of parallel stringers, and at least one setting block which is atleast partially disposed between the at least one pair of parallelstringers: the support bracket of the kit comprising a tread supportsurface and a reference surface having a first aperture, a secondaperture and a setting pin receptacle, the first aperture being adaptedand aligned for pivotally attaching the support bracket to one of theparallel stringers by inserting a first fastener through the firstaperture and into the one of the parallel stringers, and the secondaperture being adapted and aligned for pivotally attaching the supportbracket to the other of the parallel stringers by inserting a secondfastener through the second aperture and into the other of the parallelstringers, the setting pin of the kit comprising a pin configured to beremovably inserted into the setting pin receptacle of the supportbracket, and disposed between the pair of parallel stringers wheninserted into the setting pin receptacle to establish a spacing of theparallel stringers with respect to the support bracket, and the settingblock of the kit comprising an elongated member configured to beremovably attached to the support bracket, and to abut a setting blockattached to another support bracket to position the support bracket withrespect to the other support bracket disposed along the parallelstringers, whereby the support bracket is adapted to be pivotallymovable with respect to the spaced parallel stringers when the settingblock is not attached to the support bracket and the setting pin is notinserted into the setting pin receptacle.
 24. A support bracket andspacer kit for use in framing at least one side of a stair assembly intoone of a plurality of configurations, the at least one side of the stairassembly having a pair of parallel stringers, a plurality of supportbrackets spaced apart from each other along the pair of parallelstringers, and at least one spacer disposed at least partially betweenthe pair of parallel stringers: the support bracket of the kitcomprising a tread support surface and a reference surface having aspacer receptacle, a first aperture, and a second aperture, the firstaperture being adapted and aligned to receive a first fastener forpivotally attaching the support bracket to one of the parallelstringers, and the second aperture being adapted and aligned to receivea second fastener for pivotally attaching the support bracket to theother of the parallel stingers, and the spacer of the kit comprising anelongated member having a first element at each end thereof, the firstelement at one end of the elongated member configured to cooperate withthe spacer receptacle of the support bracket to establish anon-rotatively fixed positioning of the support bracket with respect tothe spacer, and a second element integrally connected to the elongatedmember and extending laterally from the elongated member, the secondelement extending beyond a side of the support bracket for insertionbetween the parallel stringers, wherein the elongated member establishesa spacing and lateral positioning of the parallel stringers with respectto the support bracket and spacer, whereby the support bracket isadapted to be pivotally attached to each of the spaced parallelstringers, the support bracket is adapted to be spaced from anothersupport bracket by the first element of the spacer, and the supportbracket is adapted to be pivotally movable with respect to the spacedparallel stringers.
 25. A method for framing at least one side of astair assembly into one of a plurality of configurations, the methodcomprising: providing a first stringer and a second stringer; providinga first support bracket and a second support bracket, each supportbracket comprising a receptacle and a first aperture and a secondaperture; providing a spacer comprising an elongated member having afirst element at each end thereof, and a second element connected to theelongated member that extends laterally; placing the spacer between thefirst stringer and the second stringer such that the second element ofthe stringer is disposed at least partially between the first stringerand the second stringer and the first and second stringers are disposedgenerally parallel to one another; placing the first element at one endof the spacer into the receptacle of the first support bracket to orientand position the support bracket with respect to the spacer; placing thefirst element at the other end of the spacer into the receptacle of thesecond support bracket to orient and position the support bracket withrespect to the spacer; pivotally attaching each of the first and secondsupport brackets to the first stringer by their respective firstapertures; and pivotally attaching each of the first and second supportbrackets to the second stringer by their respective second apertures.